Statistics at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's statistics degree produces first-year earnings of just $38,296—roughly half the national median of $59,718 and barely half the Illinois state median of $73,276. Among the nine Illinois schools offering this program, UIC ranks near the bottom (10th percentile), trailing not just elite programs like UChicago and Northwestern, but also UIUC by a significant margin. Nationally, this program sits in the 5th percentile, suggesting graduates are struggling to secure the quantitative analyst, data scientist, and research roles that typically command strong starting salaries for statistics majors.

The debt load of $22,945 is actually close to typical for statistics programs, resulting in a manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio. But that modest metric masks the real concern: graduates aren't earning anywhere near what statistics majors should command in today's data-driven economy. The low admission selectivity and high Pell grant rate (50%) indicate UIC serves many first-generation students, but those students deserve outcomes that reflect the value of a quantitative degree.

The critical caveat: this analysis is based on fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could be skewing the data significantly. However, the gap is so substantial—$35,000 below the state median—that parents should investigate carefully. Ask about internship pipelines, recruitment from major employers, and job placement specifics before committing to this program when other Illinois options show dramatically stronger outcomes.